Wednesday 6th October 2004

New Dax cars on show

Kit cars add new suspension and length

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DJ Sportscars reckons its new Dax Rush and Dax Tojeiro demonstrators were stars of the show on their public debut at Donington last month. The Dax Tojeiro De Dion with its fully-catalysed 8.2 litre, 502 bhp Chevrolet engine not only caught the attention of the photographers, but also the buyers, with three orders being placed over the weekend.

This car teams the new De Dion rear suspension with designer Peter Walker's patented front camber compensation system in an even stiffer chassis than the traditional hooped ladder frame Dax Tojeiro - already one of the stiffest in its class. The suspension system, proven on the race-winning Dax Rush, works to make the most of modern, low-profile rubber by keeping the tyres in optimum contact with the road at all times.

Joining it at the Kit and Performance Car Show on 4 and 5 September was a new long-wheelbase Dax Rush demonstrator. This features the popular Vauxhall 16-valve engine for the first time in a factory-built Rush and has already proved itself to be a sales winner.

The long-wheelbase version of the clubman-style Dax Rush has an extra three inches of length in the cockpit. "Lots of potential customers who had dismissed the idea of owning a car of this type were more than impressed when the found the could get comfortable in it," said DJ Managing Director Brian Johns.

The two new cars also drew the crowds at DJ's Harlow, Essex factory on Friday 25 September for the second-ever Dax Autumn Open Day. Brian said: "We had a good turnout despite less than perfect weather; counter sales were up on last year and we took orders for three new cars."

DJ Sportscars International is one of the longest-established component car manufacturers and has a worldwide reputation for innovation and engineering excellence. The company has been in business for more than 30 years and has been designing and building component cars for more than 20 years. Details of the range are available from:

More here.

[K2iss]

I was at the Kit Car show in Donnington and bought their Rush brochure. The car looked really gorgeous.

But they didn't let me sit in because it was "a customer car".

So now I'm a bit surprised to read this was the Dax Rush demonstrator!

Maybe I don't look posh enough to buy a Dax?

[Liszt]

That is odd as I had a sit in it at the open day.
Last year they had a Tojero on the stnad which was a customer car but he was there and was more than happy to let people sit in it.

I liked the Rush so much I am currently building a LWB V8 version

[rutthenut]

[quote]
DJ Sportscars reckons its new Dax Rush and Dax Tojeiro demonstrators were stars of the show
[/quote]

Well, they would say that - wouldn't they? :-)

[Dogsharks]

What was the marketing manager thinking when they selected a Chevrolet engine for a Cobra clone? Someone missed the boat, bigtime.

It's a dillution of the mystique of the automobile, to use a Chevrolet engine in a car Ford power made famous. I've seen a few Cobra clones at shows here and there, and every time I've looked into one that had a Chevy engine, I just turn away thinking the owner didn't have his head screwed on tight. Anything but Ford power in a Cobra clone, is inappropriate, especially since there are so many Ford alternatives that develope big power.

Dogsharks.

[Liszt]

It's the availability and price and emmissions in the UK that is the killer.

[Dogsharks]

The "price" for big block Ford power is essentially "the same" as big block anything else.

I don't buy the issue that "they did it because of price", (or the Devil made them do it).

It's plain "bad judgement" and it's going to be "bad business" too, for anyone trying to sell a Cobra clone with a cough, cough "CHEVROLET" motor. Perhaps it's not as laughable in the UK, but here in the US, it just makes no sense at all. Big blocks are a dime a dozen, why in the world would anyone put a Chevy in a Cobra?????

They're even casting new 427 blocks in the US, several companies are doing it, some of them are rated for 1000+ horsepower.

Mr. P

[Dogsharks]

In the US, there’s no shortage of Ford FE parts or technology (for those who may wonder, the “FE” is the Ford/Edsel engine family, beginning in 1958 with the 332 and 352, including the 390, 406, 410, 428 hydraulic, and the cross bolted solid lifter 427, the engine that won LeMans twice.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I just can't fathom why in the world would anyone put a Chevy motor in a Cobra Clone??? The Shelby blocks, as well as the new Genisis blocks, are all able to be bored out to much larger size than 427 cubic inches, in the event you really must.

How much more would it cost to put in the “real deal”, rather then the somewhat cheaper “substitute”. What a disappointment it would be, looking under the hood and seeing


Here are a couple of links, all at Gessford, just one source for Ford power, and I won't comment further.

Dogsharks

www.gessford.com/cobra/images/CSX7034.htm
www.gessford.com/cobras.htm
www.gessford.com/cobraparts/fords.htm

[mrwomble]

???? @ dogsharks

You're buying a replica. That means - it's not the real deal. Nothing is original. Whatever fits and works, goes. Who gives a toss what the name under the bonnet is - as long as it sounds good, feels right and pulls like Mungo at a convent disco then what's the big deal?

[fast jenn]

How much is gas in the USA ????
You would need a bank loan to take a 1000 bhp big block to a show in the UK a 150 miles away!!!!

I suppose It has to be BIGGER in the USA to be better????

[eliot]

IMO, sticking a chevy in a cobra replica in UK is fine.
Here in the UK we dont tend to get into p1551ing competitions between chev and ford - In USA you can source just about anything you want and get it shipped to your door for a very reaonable price, here in the UK it all costs money and lots of it, to get stuff shipped. (Even with the strong pound)
Chev parts are just easier to deal with in uk.

Eliot.

[The DJ 27]

According to Practical Performance Car, you can buy brand new Ford 302 V8s for £3000. Bargain

[Liszt]

Yeah but then they have to be EFI and catted to get around the emissions.

So you need a pre 92 v8.

Apart from the Rover they are thin on the ground around here